139 
Nesting. In holes drilled in dead stubs or living trees. 
Distribution. The Hairy Woodpecker in its various sub species is found over all the 
ep a parts of Canada, breeding everywhere except perhaps in the most southern portions 
of Ontario. 
SUBSPECIES. The species in eastern Canada is divided into two geographical 
races, the Eastern Hairy, the type form, and the Northern Hairy, D. v. leucomelas. The 
latter is the one usually but incorrectly given as the bird of southern Canada. It is of 
slightly larger size and of more northern distribution, only occasionally coming down into 
settled districts in winter and perhaps never appearing in the Lower Great Lakes region. 
The Hairy Woodpecker gets its name from the white feathers of the 
back, which fall over the black borders in a loose disconnected way faintly 
suggestive of hairs. It is one of the common woodpeckers and quite 
typical of the family in its habits. It is not as familiar about houses or 
orchards as the Downy Woodpecker, preferring the woods to orchard or 
shade trees. 
Economic Status. Insects constitute 77 per cent of the food of this 
species; they are mostly beetles, but include ants, scales, and sawflies; 
22 per cent is vegetable, almost entirely wild fruit. 
394. Downy Woodpecker. FR.—LE PIC MINULE. Dryobates pubescens. L, 6-83. 
Plate XVIII A. 
Distinctions. The Downy can be separated from the Hairy Woodpecker by its smaller 
size and the black barring on the white outer tail feathers. 
Field Marks. Size is the best field mark. 
Nesting. In holes drilled in dead trees and stubs. 
Distribution. The Downy Woodpecker with its various subspecies occupies all of 
temperate America, breeding in Canada wherever found. 
SUBSPECIES. The species is divided into several geographical races. The form 
of eastern Canada, the Northern Downy D. p. medianus, is separated from the type form 
only by a slight difference in size. 
The Downy Woodpecker is our commonest woodpecker. It comes 
close about the house and is quite at home in the orchard and among the 
shade trees of towns and parks. As it is resident in Canada throughout 
the year it is of particular value to the husbandman. 
Economic Status. Being the most fearless of the woodpeckers and 
coming close about the fields and houses where it is most needed, it is an 
invaluable bird. Peering into every crack and crevice of shade and fruit 
trees and drilling for deeper lying insects it well complements the work of 
the little Chickadee and Nuthatch. In fact, these three species often travel 
in company in the winter and there is little in the food line that is overlooked 
when the three species work together. The food of the Downy Woodpecker 
is similar to that of the Hairy Woodpecker, but, as would be expected 
from its smaller size and its more common presence in summer, includes 
more of the smaller insects. The various scale insects make a larger item 
in its food and it takes more moth caterpillars, including the Tent Cater- 
pillar and those of the Codling Moth. 
400. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. FR.—LE PIC 
ARCTIQUE. Picoides arcticus. L, 9-50. Plate XVIII B. 
Distinctions. A woodpecker with three instead of four toes and a solidly black back. 
Field Marks. Except the Red-headed, the only solidly black-backed woodpecker in 
eastern Canada. The all black back for specific, and the yellow crown patch of the male 
for generic recognition. Plate XVIII B. 
Distribution. The northern coniferous forests, west to the prairie provinces. 
57172—10 
